Recap | Softball Completes Sweep with Two Wins over Valparaiso on Saturday

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The Southern Illinois University softball (16-14, 8-0) team's dominant start to conference play continued on Saturday, picking up 18-3 and 6-3 wins over Valparaiso in Indiana.

Game One: 18-3 win vs. Valparaiso

Inside the Box Score

The Salukis scored a season-high 18 runs in the win. Southern scored five runs in both the first and second innings, and then scored seven in the top of the fifth, leading to the run-rule victory.
Southern had 15 hits and allowed seven, and also posted three home runs.
Kiana McDowell (2-4) earned her second win, pitching three innings and allowing six hits with three earned runs. McKenzie Newcomb also appeared, surrendering one hit, no runs, no walks, with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched.
Emily Williams had a historic day for the Salukis. Williams went 3-3 with two home runs, three runs scored, and had 8 RBI, which is tied for the most in a single-game in program history.
Jackie Lis also went deep and finished the game 2-2 with four RBI, three runs scored, and had three walks. Erin Lee led the team in hits, going 4-5 with three runs scored. Emma Austin also had a strong performance at the plate, finishing the game 2-4 with a double and two runs scored.

How it Happened

The top of the Saluki order got things rolling early, as Austin doubled and Lis drove her home with a single to give SIU a 1-0 lead two batters in. Lee and Carder both got on and with the bases loaded, Williams hit a grand slam to put Southern ahead, 5-0.

A solo home run by Valpo in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 5-1.

It was once again the top of the order that powered the Salukis ahead in the second inning, as an Austin single was followed up by a Lis home run to give SIU a 7-1 advantage.

After loading the bases, Williams, Mikaela Coburn, and Amanda Knutson all tallied an RBI each to blow the game wide open and make it a 10-1 Southern lead.

Williams homered for the second time in the game in the fourth inning, giving Southern Illinois a 10-run lead.

The Beacons added on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Southern's bats exploded for seven runs in the very next inning. A one-out double by Lee scored Lis for the inning's first run, which was followed up by a two-run double by Williams for her seventh and record-tying eighth RBI.

Southern Illinois added on three more runs after the Williams double to go up, 18-3, which ended up being the final score.

Game Two: 6-3 win vs. Valparaiso

Inside the Box Score

Southern out-hit Valparaiso, 7-4, in game two of the day. The Salukis trailed, 3-2, entering the fifth, but scored four runs in the inning to go up, 6-3.
Newcomb (10-5) reached double figures in wins after tossing a complete game with four hits allowed, three runs (one earned), no walks, with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched.
Lis and Carder both had multiple hits in the win, as Lis went 2-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and one walk while Carder finished the game 2-3 with a double, two RBI, and one run scored.

How it Happened

After stealing second and advancing to third on a Lee flyout, Austin was driven home with two outs by Carder to put the Salukis ahead early, 1-0.

An error by the Beacons in the top of the third allowed the Salukis to extend their lead to 2-0 after Lis crossed home plate and Addi Baker reached on the error.

Valparaiso took the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs with a two-run home run leading the way. The score would remain 3-2 in favor of the Beacons until the top of the fifth.

Carder doubled to center field to score Lis, and then, with two runners on base, Williams hit her third home run of the day to make it, 6-3.

Newcomb got through the following two innings without allowing a run, leading to the Salukis securing the 6-3 victory. With the win, Southern improved to 16-14 overall and 8-0 in conference play.

Up Next
The Salukis are set for another road test next weekend as they travel to Belmont in Nashville, Tenn. SIU's first game against the Bruins is scheduled for Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m.

Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Softball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball and on Instagram at @SIU_Softball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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